Queen Elizabeth Helps Nicolas Sarkozy Establish His Stamp Collection

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Britain's Queen Elizabeth helped French President Nicolas Sarkozy establish his stamp collection. The 54-year-old politician - who is known to have a fierce temper - took up stamp collecting to cultivate a calmer public image.

Delighted with his new pastime, the queen and other heads of state have helped Sarkozy fill his albums. He now owns a rare set issued by Britain's Post Office in 2004 to celebrate the Entente Cordiale - a series of agreements between the UK and France signed in 1904.

The priceless stamps were a gift from the monarch when the Sarkozys stayed at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, southeast England, last year. Sarkozy was also given a leather album full of stamps by California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The French politician even sponsors the newly-formed Elysee Philatelist Club, which meets at the presidential Paris palace he shares with his wife Carla Bruni.

A stamp club source told France's Gala magazine: "Mr. Sarkozy's collection is slowly growing into one of the most impressive in the world because of all the international leaders he is in regular contact with."

"Being French president is a perfect job for a keen philatelist."

Carla is said to be thrilled her husband has given up boozing and karaoke singing in favor of philately. Sources close to the couple say he keenly pursues his new hobby in the evening, regularly allowing his wife to inspect his albums.